07 Jul My Antidepressant Is Working…Sort Of?

“I have depression, and I have been on my antidepressant for a few months now, and I am not really feeling better. I can see that there have been some minimal positive changes; for instance, I am not as irritable. However, I am still not back to the quality of life I want. What is going on?”

There are quite a few  antidepressants on the market; each one does not necessarily work for everybody as each person has a unique, individual response to medication. For example, if you were feeling blue, unhappy, or empty, and then take medication, you may start to feel less depressed but are still flat and not yet happy. In addition there may still be other symptoms not yet responding. Since you did not get the result you wanted, you are having a suboptimal response to the medication.

One misconception is that since your medication does not fully work to treat your depression, your condition must be extremely severe. This idea could not be farther from the truth.  

The truth is, people with severe depression can also have the same response to medication, but it has nothing to do with the severity of their symptoms. Many people who take medication usually have mild or moderate depression; they just experience side effects or minimal improvement from the medications. Being nonresponsive to medication does not mean that your depression is any more severe than someone who’s antidepressant works well.

To learn more about depression and antidepressant medications and what to expect from them, call the Institute for Advanced Medical Research. The Institute for Advanced Medical Research specializes in anxiety and depression and our expert staff may be able to provide you with the help you need. Call 770-817-9200 for more information.